Sun ray indicating terrestrial globe



A Nav. 12, 1935. J. H. BECK SUN' RAY INDICATING TERRESTBIAL GLOBE FiledApril 2, 1954 Patented Nov. 12, 1935 The Geo. F. Cram Ind., acorporation of Illinois Application April 2, V1934, Serial No. 718,546

4 Claims. The object of my invention is toY provide simple means bywhich may be graphically illustrated the angle of incidence of the raysof the sun upon any portion of the earth at any season of the year.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of my invention. Fig.1 is an elevation of a terrestrial globe to which 'my improvement hasbeen applied;

Fig. 2 a plan, on a larger scale, with portions of the globe broken awaytov show the season scale; and

base. v

In the drawing III' indicates a suitable base having a spindle II uponwhich is mounted a meridian circle I2 Within which is -journaled globeI3 rotatable upon its polar axis set at the proper angle to thevertical.

Pivotally associated with the meridian circle I2 isa semi-circularsegment I4 rotatable about the vertical axis of the globe. This segmentIII,

which I call the sun-ray segment,bears upon one or both of its parallelfaces, a series of parallel markings I5 the middle'one of which isnormal to the equator I6 when the segment is in aV plane at right anglesto the plane of the meridian circle, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper andlower markings I5 are tangential to the globe, as shown in Fig. 1. Y

Segment I4 is conveniently attached to a shell I'I journaled on spindleII and shell Il is provided with an indicator arm I8 which overlies thebase and by which the segment Id may be readily swung. Concentric withthe axis II and on the base I0 is an annular period scale P which istraversed by arm I8. Scale P conveniently embodies a day and month scale20, a Zodiac scale 2|, and a season scale 22.

Scale P is, of course properly xed relative to y the plane of the polaraxis of the globe, the plane of the meridian circle coinciding with theplane of markings indicating December 23 and'June 2l.

When arm I8 is opposite the-marking indicating June 21, as in Fig. 1,the middle marking Ilia.

will be normal to the surface of the globe at the Tropic of Cancer, theupper marking I5 will be tangential to the globe at that portion of theArctic Circle beyond the North Pole and the lower marking I5 (extended),will be tangent to the surface of the globe at the Antarctic Circle onthe near side of the South Pole.V Y

Conversely, when segment I4 is swung 180 to bring arm I8 opposite themarking indicating December 23, the middle marking I5a will beUNITEDSTATS i Fig. 3 a fragmentary `vertical section of 'the PANTy,oi-rice Company, Indianapolis,

normal to the surface of the globe at the Tropic of Capricorn, the uppermarking I5 will be tangent to the surface of the globe at the ArcticCircle on the near side of the North Pole and the lower marking I5 willbe tangent tothe globe at the 5 Y Antarctic Circle on the far side ofthe South Pole.

It will be seen, therefore, that, by rotating the sun-ray segment aboutits axis, and rotating the globe about its axis, the angle of incidenceof 10 the suns rays at any time may be graphically demonstrated. j'

Similarly a graphic'and/radily understandable demonstration of thereasons for the long polar days and nights may be easily made.

I claim as my invention: V

l. The combination, with a globe rotatably mounted on its polar axis, ofa sun ray segment rotatably mounted on a vertical axis coaxial with thevertical axis ofsaid globe, said segment hav- 20 ing on its oppositefaces a series-of indicatii/ lines extending at right angles to thevertic/ axis of said segment, and relatively stationary graduatedannular period scale coaxial" with the sun ray segment and havingindicia thereon 25 cooperating with said segment andrwithmenindieatinglines onfsaid segment to indicate the angle" A' at which they/sun raysstrike the earth at any given period throughout the year.

2. The combination, with a meridian ring 30 xedly mounted on a support,of a terrestrial globe rotatably mounted on its polar axis in said fixedring, a sun ray indicator segment rotatably mounted on the vertical axisof the globe and having'imlicia thereon indicating the relative 35angulari y of the sun rays with respect to the globe, nd a` graduated.annular period scale concentric with the vertical axis of the sun raysegment and fixed relatively to the meridian circle and having indiciathereon cooperating 40 with said segment and with the indicating linesonthe segment to indicate the angle at which the sun rays strike theearth at anyv given period throughoutthe year.

3. The combination, With a base, of a meridian 45 ring xed on said base,a terrestrial globe rotatably mounted on its polar axis in said meridianring, a sun ray indicating segment rotatably mounted on the verticalaxis of said globe and having a series of parallel markings on itsopposite faces extending at right angles tothe vertical axis of saidsegment, a graduated annular period scale fixedly mounted on said base,and having indicia thereon cooperating with said segment, 551

and with the indicating lines on said segment to indicate the angle atwhich the sun rays strike the earth at any given period throughout theyear.

4. The combination, with a globe rotatably mounted on its polar axis, ofa sun ray segment f rotatably mounted on a vertical axis coaxial withthe vertical axis of said g1obe,'said`segment having on its oppositefaces a series 0f indicating 10 lines extending` at right angles to theverticaalVV axis of said segment, a stationarily mounted graduatedannular period scale coaxial with the sun ray segment, and a pointermounted in the vertical plane of said segment cooperating with thegraduated period scale to so position said segment as to cause theindicating lines thereon to indicate the angle at which the sun raysstrike the earth at any predeteri'nined period throughout the year.

Y JOHNSE H. BECK.

